Ready to identify Your Crab? Just answer these questions:

Does it have 10 legs?

Yes?Go to step 2. All ‘true’ crabs have 10 legs (four pairs of walking legs plus a pair of pincers). They do often lose and re-grow limbs so look carefully.

No? If your crab has 8 legs with none missing (three pairs of walking legs and one pair of pincers) it is a Porcelain crab (a close relative of the ‘true’ crabs). There are two species: the Broad-clawed porcelain crab and the Long-clawed porcelain crab. They’re only a few centimetres across and cling to the underside of rocks.

Pleased to meet you! A broad-clawed porcelain crab extends a claw.A long-clawed porcelain crab. These crabs are very small and cling to the bottom of rocks.

Does it have flattened back legs and red eyes?

Yes? You have a Velvet swimming crab. These crabs are feisty and don’t hesitate to use their pincers. If you can get close enough, the shell feels soft and velvety and has up to ten very sharp teeth down each side and more between the eyes. There are other species of swimming crabs, which also have flattened back legs, but without the red eyes.

No? Keep going.

A velvet swimming crab part-buried in sand. It has red eyes, sharp teeth down the sides of its shell.The flattened back legs of the Velvet swimming crab make them fast and powerful swimmers.

Does it have one claw bigger than the other and bristly hair all over?

Yes? You have a Hairy crab. These aren’t very common but are easily recognised.

No? It’s something else – keep reading…

Hairy crabs are covered all over in bristles and have one claw bigger than the other.

Does its shell have five pointy ‘teeth’ down the side and three bumps between the eyes?

Yes? This sounds like a Green shore crab. This is the species of crab you are likely to catch with crab nets and is very adaptable, living in estuaries and on most areas of the shore. Young crabs are hugely variable in colour so the shell shape is the best guide to identification. Mature adults have a green tinge to their shell.

Is the shell oval and crimped like a pasty?

Yes? You have an Edible crab. These crabs have green eyes and strong claws, but tend to be gentle. The name is unfortunate as these crabs are no more edible than any other and they need many years to grow to maturity, so please take care to return them safely to where you found them.

No? Keep going…

Large edible crab

Does your crab’s shell have five blunt teeth/bumps down the side and a wide flat section (with a small notch in the middle) between the eyes?

Yes? You have a Xantho’scrab. There are two species, so put your crab in water and look at the back legs.

If the back legs of your crab are densely fringed with hairs you have a Xantho pilipes (pilipes means ‘hairy legged’). These crabs vary a lot in colour, often having a marbled appearance.

If the back legs aren’t hairy, you have a Xantho hydrophilus. These crabs are sometimes called ‘Furrowed crabs’ because their shells tend to have a furrowed look.

No? Keep reading…

A Xantho pilipes crab – the notched sides to the shell and the hairy back legs identify this crab. Sometimes called a ‘Risso’s crab’A male Xantho hydrophilus (or incisus) crab – note the furrowed look and the ‘strong-man’ claws

Does your crab have a spiny shell?

Yes? It’s a Spider crab. These crabs have long spindly legs giving them their name.

Large spider crabs come close inshore to breed in the early summer and are often found on the shore.

There are other, much smaller species that can be seen on shore all year round the Decorator crabs. These often adorn themselves with seaweed or sponges, making them very hard to identify on the shore.

If you haven’t identified your crab yet it might be one of these…

Is it living inside the shell of a sea snail? You have a hermit crab. In the most common species (Pagurus bernhardus) the right claw is bigger than the left. There are several other less common species including the St Piran’s Crab.

Does it look like a mini-lobster with long claws stretched out to the front? This is likely to be a squat lobster. Lobsters can also occasionally be found on the shore.

Does it have two long antennae sticking straight up from the top of its head? This is a Masked crab. They hide in the sand with just their antennae sticking up to catch prey.

Does your crab have a small, heart-shaped shell with a sandy pattern? This is probably a Pennant’s swimming crab (Portumnus latipes). It has flattened back legs like the Velvet swimming crab.

A common hermit crab: Pagurus bernhardusA squat lobster – Galathea squamiferaA colourful squat lobster – the Galathea strigosaThe masked crab has a long body and long antennae at the front – Cornish Rock Pools junior says it looks like a unicorn.

Still not sure? There are other species not covered here. Take a photo if possible or send me a description, I’d love to help.